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BB gun totin' man forces lock down of 4 schools

“It’s not the best judgment to walk down the sidewalk,” Bowen said, carrying a gun in the manner as was the man.

Bowen said as soon as police were contacted they in turn immediately called principals at Castle Heights Upper Elementary, Coles Ferry Elementary, Sam Houston Elementary and Walter J. Baird Middle Schools, and Scott Benson, assistant director of the Lebanon Special School District and requested the schools be locked down as a precaution.

“Our first concern was with all the schools,” Bowen said.

Benson said lunchtime was already under way, shortly after 11 a.m., when the schools were placed in lockdown. “We had to stop lunch,” Benson said.

He added that the lockdown was lifted shortly before noon so students could resume their lunchtime and classes.

Benson said a phone message through LSSD’s all-call system was sent out at 3:15 p.m., yesterday, to inform parents of what had happened and that students were never in danger.

Bowen said officers fanned out on local roadways and in the woods behind CHUE toward the subdivision and apartments behind the school. Other officers kept check on the schools and area businesses, as well.

The man was later found in the woods with what was determined to be a BB gun.

The police chief said everything happened as it should have in such a situation, from notifying police to making sure students and staffs were kept safe.